Combined light and illuminated sign.



E H. WHITLOCK.

COMBlNED LIGHT AND ILLUMINATED SIGN.

. APPLICATION mm DEC. 11. 1914.

1,208,870. Patented Dec.19,1916.

s rx'rs A'i @FFTQE.

COMBINED LIGHT AND ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed December 11, 1914. Serial No. 876,705.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLIOTT H. Wnrr- LOCK, a citizen of theUnited States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Lights and Illuminated Signs, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying' that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to combined lights and illuminated signs, its object being to provide a structure which will be economical of construction and eflicient in its operation.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing :-Figure 1 represents a horizontal sectional view of a detachable structure which may be used to convert an ordinary porch-light into a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of an ordinary and standard depending porch-light. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of such standard porchlight provided with the detachable structure shown in Fig. 1 and forming a device embodying my invention. Fig. 4 represents a vertical axial section of the structure shown I in Fig. 3, taken upon the plane indicated by line IVIV in Fig. 3, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The embodiment of my invention, as illustrated by the drawing, comprises a bracket 1 adapted to be secured to the ceiling of the porch, such bracket being of the usual and standard construction, formed with a lower opening 3. That part of the bracket adjacentv to this opening is provided with a plurality of set-screws 4 which are adapted to engage theupper andopen end of an ordinary globe 5, such upper end being provided with the usual outwardly-extending flange 6, the set-screws engaging the globe below the flange and thereby preventing the latter from dropping outwardly from the opening. Then it is desired to remove the globe, the set-screws are turned so as to disengage such flange, as will be readily understood.

In carrying out my invention, as illustrated, I provide a structure 7 illustrated in Fig. 1, which is adapted to be secured to the bracket 1 after the globe 5 has been removed and to the lower portion of which the said globe, after having been so removed, may be secured. This structure 7, as illustrated, is formed of sheet metal and comprises a bent sheet forming side Walls 8, 8, and a rear wall 9. A top sheet 10 is secured to the side and rear walls and its front portion is inclined upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, the front portions of the sides 8 being similarly fashioned so as to complete the inclosure. A bottom sheet 11 is similarly secured to the side and back walls and is downwardly inclined, the sides 8 being likewise flared to correspond, all as will be readily understood. These side, top and bottom members form a front opening 12 in which the illuminable sign is secured. For the purpose of securing this sign, the outer edge portion of the sheet 10 is bent so as to form two grooves, a groove 13 and a groove 14, Fig. 4. The inner side of the groove 13 is formed by the inclining of the top sheet 10. In a similar manner, grooves 13 and 14 are formed adjacent to the lower side of the opening 12. Integral tongues 15, 15, are formed on the side members 8 and form a backing for a sheet 16 of glass, or other transparent or translucent material, which is seated in the guide-way formed by the two grooves 13 and 13, this sheet forming a part of the illuminable sign member. Additional integral portions 17 17, are each bent over the front surface of the glass sheet so as to hold same in place and against endwise movement. the guide-ways formed by the grooves 14 and 14 is a plurality of number-forming elements 18. Each of these elements consists of a thin sheet of metal and such sheets are provided with cut-out numbers, as are required in order to form the desired housenumber. The structure illustrated is of such dimensions as will require five of the mem bers 18 to fill the guide-ways formed by the Seated in occupant of a house.

grooves 14 and 14, when placed end to end, three of these elements being provided with cut-out numbers. In order to hold, these members 18 in place, additional integral tongues 19 19, are provided which are bent over the outside of the end-most members 18.

From the above description it will be seen that the elements 18 may be readily removed and replaced with others so as to form different house numbers, by merely bending back the tongues 19 and then slipping the elements 18 out of the guideways endwise. In a similar manner when it is desired to remove or replace the glass sheet 18, one or both the integral tongues 17 may be bent so as to disengage one end of same and permit said sheet to be readily slipped out or a new sheet inserted therefor. sheet 10 is provided with an opening 20, Fig. 4, and this opening is surrounded by "an outwardlyextending flange 21, this flange being of substantially the same diameter as the flange 6 of the globe 5, so that the said flange 21 may be inserted in the opening 3 and secured therein by means of the set screws 4. The lower sheet 11 is provided with an opening 22, which is in vertical alinement and of the same diameter as opening 20. That portion of the structure surrounding the opening 22 is provided'with set-screws 23 similar to set-screws 4, so that the flangeG ofthe globe 5 may be inserted in this lower opening and secured therein, as shown in Fig. 4. It will therefore be seen that when it is desired to convert an ordinary depending porch-light, such as is shown in Fig. 2, into a combined porch-light and illuminated sign, the globe 5 is removed and the structure 7 inserted in the bracket 1, in its place. lower opening 22 of the structure. The vertical dimensions of the structure 7 are such that the ordinary incandescent bulb 24, when afiixed to the ordinary fixture 25, will project some distance into the globe, as shown in Fig. 4, so that sufficient light is obtained from such bulb to form the necessary illumination of the porch, and at the same time the bulb is so located as to be opposite and hence allowed to efliciently illuminate the number-sign. In this manner, an ordinary porch-lamp is readily converted into a combined porch-lamp and illuminated sign.

It will be obvious that letters or other characters may be substituted for the characters in the sign elements as, for instance, when it is desired to form the name of an It will also be seen that the above-described construction provides a complete inclosure which is adapted to exclude insects and impurities carried by the atmosphere. 7

In so far as relates to that part of the structure above-described, which includes The upper or top The globe is then secured in the globe depending the means for forming the sign itself and particularly the means for building up and supporting the elements of such sign, it is obvious that the described structure may be used in any type of illuminated sign and this part of my invention is therefore not necessarily confined to the specific type of combined light and which is illustrated and described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a combined light and illuminated sign, the combination of a depending bracket adapted to be secured to a ceiling; a frame depending and detachable from said bracket and having a portion of its side walls formed of a translucent sign; and a globe depend: ing and detachable from said frame.

2. In a combined light and illuminated sign, the combination of a bracket; a detachable frame depending from said bracket and having a portion of its walls'formed by a translucent sign; and a globe depending from said frame and detachable therefrom; said bracket being arranged so .thatrsaid globe, when said frame is removed, maybe attached thereto.

3. In a combined light and illuminated sign, the combination of a bracket; a frame depending and detachable from the latter and having a portion of its walls formed by a translucent sign; and aglobe depending from said frame and havingan upper circumferential flange, the latter being connected with the lower and detachable therefrom.

4. In a combined light and illuminated sign, the combination of. a bracket adapted to be fixedto a ceiling and open atits top; a frame having an upper flange connected with and detachable from the lower portion of said bracket and having a portion of its walls formed by a translucent sign; and a from said frame and detachable therefrom. i

5. In a combined light and illuminated sign, the combination of a fixed bracket; a frame having an? upper circumferential flange connected with and detachable from the lower portion of such bracket; said frame having a portion of its by a translucent sign; and a globe having an upper circumferential flange connected with the lower part of said frame and detachable therefrom. V

6. 111a combined light and illuminated sign, the combination with a bracket having an 'opentop and bottom and adapted to be secured to the ceiling; an electric lamp bracket secured to said ceiling and surrounded by said first-named bracket; a

frame depending and removable from: said first-named bracket, and having a portion portion of said frame walls formed Signed by me, this 29th day of November, 1914:.

of its Walls formed by a translucent sign, the said frame having an open top and bottom; a globe having an open top depending and detachable from the lower portion of said frame; and an electric lamp secured to the lamp bracket and extending through said frame and partially into said globe.

ELLIOTT H. WHITLOCK.

Attested by-- M. ROTHENBERG, D. M. FINDLING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fcommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

